Normally I avoid “blog bands” like the plague, and when I succumb to the hype enough to give them a listen I am presented with some crap like Vampire Weekend or The Fleet Foxes most of the time.
Thanks, but No Thanks.
So, when it came to all The Gaslight Anthem hype I was just considering the sources and ignoring them. Then, as the 2008 year end lists started rolling in and I kept seeing their name, I finally decided to give the band a look-see. It is my pleasure to announce that these guys are worthy of the hype they’re getting.
There are plenty of words and breathless praise already out on the internets so I’m not gonna get carried away, besides, I’m probably the last person in the world to hear the album. However, in case someone else out there hasn’t checked them out yet, I’ll post some basics.
The Gaslight Anthem come from New Jersey and have garnered a ton of comparisons to another New Jersey native, Springsteen. A full-length and an EP preceded The 59 Sound and apparently both had a grittier sound than this release. I’ve not heard either to be able to comment on that, but I soon will. The 59 Sound is a rock and roll record without any gimmicks. In a sentence, I’d say it’s the album The Killers were trying to make when they grew mustaches and wrote Sam’s Town.
Check it out. IMO, it’s Essential Listening and I think you’ll like it.
The Gaslight Anthem – Even Cowgirls Get The Blues
The Gaslight Anthem – Here’s Looking At You, Kid
The Gaslight Anthem – The ’59 Sound
The Gaslight Anthem’s Official Site, The Gaslight Anthem on myspace, Buy The 59 Sound
Autopsy IV
Part time blogger. Full time hater.
I too often try to not fall under the spell of the “blog band”. I have found myself succumbing from time to time though I will say I was pleased with Fleet Foxes, Blitzen Trapper and even Vampire Weekend, although not to the high levels that most of the blogs were. One album that i just dont get is that snooze-fest “She & Him – Volume One”…holy crap. So many blogs and critics are crappin’ their panties for this and it is now my defailt listen when i need to sleep on airplanes….
I’ve not heard of that one.
The new one that has my head shaking is Animal Collective.
That album is fucking horrible.
She & Him is made up of M. Ward and the main chick from the movie “Elf”, and its the equivelent of slugging nyquil while watching cspan…i am also having a hard time getting that bon iver guy also…yep, i am with you on that animal collective one too…
Ha! I just listened to that Bon Iver EP this morning…ummmm, no thanks.
I hate blog bands too, and while I don’t “hate” Fleet Foxes, I will live a happy life if I never hear them again. Vampire Weekend and She & Him both induce vomiting for me. Gaslight Anthem is not bad, and they are super popular right now in Toronto. I am going to try to catch their show at the end of March, but a lot of ticket outlets are sold out already (I refuse to use ticketmaster). I guess I would rather the kids listen to Gaslight Anthem than Animal Collective.
no reason to shit on Vampire Weekend guys!
but I agree, She and Him is a snoozefest. I cannot understand how people like it.
the new Animals Collective is ok, nowhere near as good as some of their old stuff
anyhow, I do love the Gaslight Anthem, so props to them
So we blog readers all hate the blog bands…….my head hurts.
I do agree that most of the above mentioned bands are just terrible, and i’d like to add Port O’Brien to the list, but I was blown away at how good Gaslight was when I first checked them out.
They are no Two Cow Garage but still it’s a solid record.
you called it on all points.
No reason to shit on Vampire Weekend, but also no reason for me to listen to ‘em.
Just sounds like resurrected Simon and Garfunkel to me. By kids trying to be Simon and Garfunkel. They are to S&G what The Strokes are to The Rolling Stones, for me. And I don’t like Simon/Funkel to begin with.
[...] I’m usually in agreement with his taste and commentary, until a couple weeks ago when he discussed The Gaslight Anthem and inferred that Fleet Foxes were undeserving of their praise. “Crap” is the word he [...]
[...] I’m usually in agreement with his taste and commentary, until a couple weeks ago when he discussed The Gaslight Anthem and inferred that Fleet Foxes were undeserving of their praise. “Crap” is the word he [...]